Septuagenarian volunteer wins praise for fluent English at Shenzhen airport

Volunteer Yu Zhenfang (R) helps British traveler Anna Anyan with her transportation arrangements at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Oct. 15. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

A handwritten note in English has captured the kindness that can cross language barriers at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

At about 7 p.m. Oct. 15, British traveler Anna Anyan had just left the arrivals area and was looking around for directions. Yu Zhenfang, a volunteer in her 70s, noticed that Anyan seemed unsure where to go and approached her with a smile.

“Hi, madam. Can I help you?” Yu asked.

It was Anyan’s first visit to China. Although she had booked a hotel in advance, she could not contact the hotel using her overseas mobile number and did not know whether its shuttle bus had arrived. Yu called the hotel from her own phone and learned that the previous shuttle bus had just left.

Yu accompanied Anyan to the pickup point in the parking area and stayed in contact with the driver while they waited. Anyan said the warm welcome and Yu's fluent English had changed her impression of China.

When the shuttle arrived, Anyan gave Yu a hug and wrote a note of thanks on airport stationery: “I’m very grateful for all help from those lovely ladies. They were very helpful with my problem. Wish you all long years and good health.” The two also took a photo together.

British traveler Anna Anyan (L) poses with volunteer Yu Zhenfang (C), holding a handwritten thank-you note, and two other volunteers at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Oct. 15. 

Yu has been a registered volunteer since December 2004 and has served at the Shenzhen airport in Bao’an District since 2015. Besides speaking fluent English, she knows basic Korean and Japanese, and speaks Cantonese, Hakka and Shanghainese.

Yu said volunteering made her happy because she could help others. “That’s my secret to staying young,” she said. “My goal now is to become the oldest volunteer serving on the front line.”

When she sees international travelers hesitating in a corridor or struggling to read signs, Yu says, she approaches them rather than waiting for them to ask for help. She also shares tips with younger volunteers, encouraging them to listen to songs in other languages and watch foreign news programs to improve their spoken English and pronunciation.

With the APEC meetings approaching, Bao’an District has strengthened airport volunteer teams, providing assistance to international travelers. Since June, more than 300 volunteers with foreign-language skills have been assigned to busy areas including departure and arrival halls and ride-hailing pickup points.